Kinshasa, DRC – (African Boulevard News) – The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has witnessed a surge in sexual violence cases. According to the NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF), during the last two weeks of April, “more than 670 victims of sexual violence were taken care of” in the Goma region.
The statistics are alarming and paint a bleak picture of the situation around Goma. The MSF also reported that there were “48 victims of sexual violence per day” in the same period. Sexual violence has become a widespread problem in the DRC, and the recent surge in numbers has raised concerns among authorities and human rights groups.
As per the MSF, most of the victims were women and girls, and the majority of the crimes were committed by armed groups. The NGO also added that there were not enough medical facilities to cater to the increasing number of victims.
“The situation is dire, and we need urgent help,” said Dr. Virginie Gomes, head of the MSF mission in the DRC. “The victims need better access to medical facilities and psychological support. We also need to focus on preventing these heinous crimes from happening in the first place.”
The ongoing conflict in the region has created a conducive environment for sexual violence to thrive. The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC has been working to protect civilians from such atrocities, but the situation remains grim.
“The surge in sexual violence cases is extremely concerning,” said Leila Zerrougui, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. “We must work together to bring an end to these abuses and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Human rights groups have also urged the DRC government to take immediate action to address the issue. “The government must ensure that the perpetrators of sexual violence are prosecuted and punished accordingly,” said Jean-Marie Bamu, the regional director of Amnesty International.
The recent surge in sexual violence cases around Goma highlights the urgent need for authorities to take steps to prevent such crimes from happening. The victims need better access to medical facilities and psychological support, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. It is time for the DRC government to take concrete action to protect its citizens, especially women and girls, from sexual violence.
